Struggles I have being Autistic:

Potential CW for sensitive topics.

1. Not understand social cues, sarcasm and most jokes. Getting my words mixed up when trying to put thoughts into words.

2. Frequent burnout & shutdown from my environment and the world around me

3. Easily meltdown from perceived rejection. Most of my meltdowns are within, and I feel like my entire body is fuelled by fire. I shake, cry, and it feels like internal warfare.

4. Constant feeling of loneliness. It is hard for me to connect with people and keep them around.

5. Unable to visit places I want to easily, without needing an escape, accommodation and time to recharge afterwards. 6. Judgement from others. Too childish, too neurotic, “the world doesn’t revolve around you”, you don’t seem autistic, you don’t look it.

7. Unable to work traditional jobs. A 4-hour shift left me with heart palpitations, burnout, and crying. At the time, I didn’t know I was autistic.

8. Emotional dysregulation Anger lasts for hours and is heightened, as is sadness. It becomes very black and white and can make me suicidal quickly.

9. Being taken advantage of. It’s not a new fact that autistic people get taken advantage of for their kindness. I have had family members try to use my niceness to gain financially on inessential things. People have also borrowed and never give back.

10. Executive dysfunction I will put tasks off for months, even years. Family members will have to push or book things for me so that I will do them. I neglect my health a lot because of this. 11. Small palette of food I can handle. Which affects my health.

12. Overall depression from feeling lonely, unable to do things, and being autistic. & other mental health issues that have come from being autistic, like OCD and anxiety.

13. Being able to do what most neurotypicals can. Attend university, travel, drive, go out with friends often, and work traditional jobs.

14. Ableism. Not being accommodated in this world. Being called slurs. Being harassed. Invalidated.